Portable electric lamp



oa. 13, 1942. F. v. FISCHER 2,298,758

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMP Filed April 16', 1941 f2 sheets-sheet 1 l l lOdi. 13, 1942. F, v FISCHER 2,298,758

PORTABLE ELECTRIC L'AMP Filed Aprill 16, 1941 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 416 ZhWe?? a? n w v 4f fred Jef' lclamp therefor;

Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE ELECTRICLAMP Fred v. Fischer, omaha., Neb1-. Application April 1s, 1941, serial'Nascanna (ci. 24o-452.1)

7 Claims.

It is an object of my invention to provide a i simple and durableportable electric lamp which may be quickly assembled and convenientlyremovably clampingly attached to various objects, posts, or xed supportsto provide a conveniently supported light for workers in various arts,or for use by invalids confined to beds, since my improved clamp may beattached to objects, posts or members of round or rectangular shape.

Another object of my invention resides in the novel and inexpensiveclamp which may be formed of suitable at metal or wire and preferably ofa single piece of flat spring steel to which an electric lamp socket maybe conveniently and adjustably attached or to which clamp may beattached an electric light fixture composed of two spaced parts havingan interconnecting coil spring between such parts adapted to exertpressure upon the clamp to afford its detachable securement to curved orflat surfaces of objects or posts or various fixed members forconvenient support thereon.

The invention also has for its object to provide an adjustable clamp foran electric light fixture wherein such clamp is composed of two separatecomparatively stiff metallic Wire members which are supported onrelatively spaced resiliently supported parts or members of the electriclight fixture.

A further object of my invention finds embodiment in the constructionand formation of a unitary clamp wherein the clamp members are anintegral part of the ends of a resilient member or portion supported onrelatively spaced parts of .the electric light fixture.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thenovel combination, construction and arrangement of theY parts andmembers shown in preferred embodiment in the attached drawings,described in the following specification and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electric lamp support embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the electric lamp support showninFig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3--3 of lamp support` showing amodification of the Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is aside elevation of an electricFig. 5 is a cross-section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modied electric lamp support including aunitary clamp embodying my invention;

Fig. '7 is an end view of the clamp shown in Fig. 6; l Fig. 8 is a sideview of another modified electric lamp support embodying my invention;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the clamp shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-section taken on line IIJ--IIJ of Fig. 8. j

Asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the electric lamp support consists of anelectric lamp socket I0 for the electric light bulb II, a coil spring I2having one end supported on said light bulb socket lo, a tubular supportI3 for the other end of the coil spring I2, and al clamp I4 composed ofspaced identical clamp members I5, one supported on the electric lightbulb socket IIl and the other supported onV the tubular support I3.

' As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the electric light bulb socket I0 isprovided withthe usual screw connections i6 forthetwo leads of theelectric current conductor I'I which extends into the open end I8 of thesocket I0 and which open end is of decreased diameter and exteriorlythreaded to receive the interiorly threaded tubular cap I9 forscrew-connection thereon.

. The socket I0 is formed with a shoulder 20 against which the cap I5 isscrew-mounted to provide an annular groove 2I between the circularflange 22 of the socket IIJ and the ange 23 of the cap I9.

The tubular coil-spring-support I3 is also, like the socket I0, providedwith a cap 24 which is screw-mounted on an exteriorly threaded portion26 of decreased diameter. The spring support I3 is provided with ashoulder 25 which provides an abutment for the cap 24 whereby thecircular flange 21 of the cap 24 and the circular flange 28 of thesupport I3 are maintained in relatively spaced position to provide anannular groove 29 therebetween.

The electric current conductor Il, which conducts an electric currentfrom any source of electric power such as a power line or battery,extends through aligned centrally disposed passages extending throughthe support I3 and cap 2'4.

i The exterior faces of the caps I9 and 24 are each formed with a spiralgroove 30 to receive therein the end portions of the coi1 spring I2.

The socket I0 and the support I3 are both formed with an integral lug 3Idisposed within respectively the grooves 2l and 29 which lugs functionto prevent rotation of the clamps I5 relatively to the socket II] andsupport I3.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3J the clamp I4 consi-sts of two like clampingmembers I5, one mounted on the socket I and the other mounted on thespring support I3.

Each clamp member I is fabricated from a comparatively stiff piece ofelongated metal prefo erably of round cross-section, and each clamp I5is formed with a circular portion 32 at one end thereof which is adaptedto be positioned in one of the grooves 2I or 29 for support therein.

It will be noted that the opening in the circular looped end 32 is notcompletely closed, vthat is, the terminal 33 is spaced from the curvedportion 34 a distance to clear the lug 3I so that the lug 3I intertsbetween the terminal 33 and the curved portion 34 to thereby preventrotation of the clamps I5 relatively to the socket I0 and spring-supportmember I3.

The medial portion of each of the clamps I5 is provided with a curved orarcuate portion 35 which adapts the clamps I5 to engagement with andabout objects having a curved surface, as for example, a round post 40indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1. The clamps may be somewhatstrengthened by interposing a slight curve 36 in a reverse direction tothe curve of the portion 35.

The free ends of the clamps I5 are flattened, as at 31, and straightenedout to form opposed flat gripping faces, and such faces are preferablycovered with felt or cork pads 38 to increase their frictional grippingor holding action when the lamp is clamped to a pair of opposed flatfaces of an object 39 indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the coil spring I2 and theclamps I5 are combined in one unit, that is, the clamps I5 are formedfrom or in extended end portions of spring I2 and are therefore integraltherewith.

The formation or structure" of the spring end clamp portions, generallyindicated by 4I, is the same as those above-described.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, there is no necessity forproviding the socket I0 and spring-supporting members I3 with separatecaps I9 and 24 and therefore, the socket Ill and the support I3 may eachbe'formed` or cast or molded in one piece but each provided with `a pairof spaced circular flanges 42 and 43 for retaining therebetween theclamp portions 4I of the spring.

Since the clamps and spring are formed integral with each other, theflanges 43 are each provided with a diagonal groove 44 to receive theend convolutions of the spring portion 4IA.

The lugs l3I are also dispensed with in the socket I Il and support I3of the modification in Figs. 4 and 5.

The electric lamp or bulb II may be provided with any suitable type ofreflector. The reflector 45 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with resilientprongs 46 adapted to embrace the socket Ii) for support of the reflector45. y

The modification of my clamp shown inFigs. 6 and '1 is somewhat similarto that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 except that the medial coiled springportion 4IA is dispensed with by providing the looped portions 4IB'with-upwardly extended integral portions 4IC. The extensions 4IC are bentback :upon themselves orextended in lreverse direction to provide doublethickness in the form of spaced clamp handles 41 and the doubledportions are preferably flattened as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The medial portion 4ID, which is also preferably flattened, is formed asan integral part with the clamp portions 4IC and is curved to providespring action between the clamp portions 4I when the handles 41 arepressed toward one another to spread the clamping ends 4I.

The modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 substitutes a flat arcuatespring portion 4ID for the coil spring portion 4I'A shown in Figs. 4 and5 and incorporate integral portions of the clamp into the handleformations 41.

The modification of my invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, embodiesfeatures of the two clamps shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '1 in a unitaryctla'nlip constructed preferably of bent flat spring s ee In the clampshown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the overlapped portions 4IC, whichconstitute the clamp handles 41, are connected by the curved or arcuatespring portion 4ID formed integrally therewith.

The clamping `parts of the clamp include the oppositely curved portions4IE which are adapted to clampingly engage a circular member 40 asindicated by broken lines. The outer parallel extensions 4I F areadapted to clampingly engage flattened sides of an object 39 asindicated by broken lines, and the end portions 4IGr are bentright-angularly toward one another and preferably formed with toothededges whereby same may frictionally engage opposed faces of a flatmember such as 48 indicated by broken lines.

The opposed clamp portions 4IH formed integrally with and intermediatelythe handle portions 4IC and the circular clamping portions 4IE are bentinto angular formations and each provided with an elongated slot 49 Vforsupport therein of the electric light fixture which includes the socket50, the nipple 5I, through vwhich the electric current conductor I1extends, and a pair of securing nuts 52.

'Ihe electric light fixture may, as shown by dot and dash lines, bemounted on the clamp in relatively different angular positions becausethe nipple 5I, upon loosening of the nuts 52, may be positioned ineither ends of the slots 49 which extend through the angularly bentportions 4IH.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable electric light lamp including an electric lamp socket, atubular member spaced from said socket, a coil spring interposed between and connecting said socket and said tubular member, clamping meansincluding a pair of clamping members extending one from said socket andthe other from said tubular member, and an electric current conductorextending through said tubular member and through the longitudinal axisof the convolutions of said coil spring into connections with saidsocket.

2. A portable electric light lamp as embodied in claim 1 and includingsaid clamping members formed integrally with said coil spring, one ofsaid clamping members being formed with one end of said coil springandthe other of said clamping members with the Vother endofA vsaid coilspring. f f

3. A portable electric light lamp including an electric lightsocket-havingl anannular groove thereon, a ytubular member vspaced 'fromsaid `socket and having an -annular groove thereon, a coil springextending between and connecting said socket and said tubular member,said coil spring including a pair of clamping members, one of saidclamping members being formed integrally with one end of said spring andthe other of said clamping members being formed integrally with theother end of said spring, and an electric current conductor extendingthrough said tubular member into connection with said socket.

4. A portable electric light lamp including an electric lamp sockethaving an annular groove, a tubular member disposed in spaced relationto said socket and having an annular groove, a clamp comprising a pairof spaced clamping members, a portion of one of said clamping membersbeing secured in said groove on said socket and a portion of the otherof said clamping members being secured in said groove on said tubularmember, a resilient clamp portion formed integrally with said clampingmembers, and an electric current conductor extending through saidtubular member into connection with said socket.

5. A portable electric light lamp as embodied in claim 4 and includingeach of said clamping members having an extended overlapped integralportion, said extended overlapped portions constituting spaced handlesand being formed integrally with said resilient clamp portion.

6. A portable electric light lamp as embodied in claim 4 and includingeach of said clamping members having an extended portion, said extendedportions constituting spaced handles, and including said resilient clampportion comprising an arcuate bent portion formed integrally with saidextended handle portions.

7. A portable electric light lamp including a pair of spaced elongatedclamping members, each of said clamping members having an arcuateobject-engaging medial portion and a straight object-engaging terminalportion, both of saidA

